The European Tour announced
on Monday that it was moving beyond its traditional confines with Brazil hosting
two events this year for the first time.
The Tour said the Brazil
Rio de Janeiro 500 Years Open would take place at Rio's Itanhanga club on March
23-26, one week before the Brazil Sao Paulo 500 Years Open.
Prize money for the two
will total $1.4 million.
"The fact that we are also
celebrating in the year 2000 the 500th anniversary of the discovery of Brazil
by the Portuguese sailor Alvares Cabral adds even more meaning to it all," said
local promoter Joao Lagos.
European Tour executive
director Ken Schofield said: "These tournaments provide further impetus to our
drive to internationalise the game of golf."
